Welcome to the Piano World Piano ForumsOver 2 million posts about pianos, digital pianos, and all types of keyboard instruments
Join the World's Largest Community of Piano Lovers
(it's free)
It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

This has nothing to do with how many pianos anyone has, but the kind/brand of piano, I suppose.

Several months ago, I bought a 5’8” Kimball baby grand from a local church that went to all digital pianos. It is a late 70’s model with the Bosendorfer designed plate (big, round holes) laminated sound board and Schwander (sp?) action. The only reason I bought it was because the church was not too far from my home and the price was appealing, as far as what some used baby grand pianos sell for; it had some wear and needed a good cleaning, hammers reshaped, action regulated, etc…

To be honest, I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the tone and touch of that piano… I have played it hard, and often, and it holds a tuning better than any piano I’ve ever had (laminated sound board?). The tone is a bit woody (laminated sound board?), but not really overly bright or harsh. The low bass sounds very nice for a 5’8” piano from the late 1970’s.

I’ve thought about selling it and moving on to another piano adventure, but I really do like it and it is hard to part with.

So, the only thing worse than Piano Acquisition Syndrome (PAS) is liking them all and wanting to keep them all!

Rick

_________________________
Piano enthusiast and amateur musician: "Treat others the way you would like to be treated". Yamaha C7. YouTube Channel

Lester Betsy Ross Spinet, Knabe 5'2" Grand made in 1927, Steinway XR, Rippen Alugrand, Steinway K52, and Yamaha G3. I have brokered several pianos that I didn't actually own but were at my house including a beautiful Baldwin 9' Concert Grand, just bought a Baldwin 45" upright yesterday. Currently I just have the Knabe and am picking up the Baldwin tomorrow.

The Baldwin was an absolute steal as it's in good condition and the owner only wanted $200. I plan on cleaning that one up and reselling at some point, unless I decide I like it better than my Knabe, in which case the Knabe might go up for sale.

I have lost exact count, but I think I have owned nine or ten, with only my last being a grand. I did own one rosewood square grand, but it was never playable really. The rest were uprights including one player piano which does play the rolls but is not very playable manually. My current piano, a 7 foot Mason-Hamlin BB is the best piano I have ever owned and will be my last (probably.)

Upon reading all the posts, I tried to re-count. I forgot about my two organs and accordion, but didn't think they would count. I also forgot two pianos. One was given to me when I was about 14 with the promise that my grandfather, who was a life-long piano tech as well as a pipe organ installer/repairman, would repair the action. He never got to it and we moved, leaving it behind. That was my first piano. For years I used to buy antique uprights from estate sales and newspaper ads. These usually cost from $50 to $100 and I usually refinished the cases, cleaned them, and sold them for about $150. Not much for all that work. I did nothing to the musical components themselves. I only owned two or three that played well. The most I ever had at one time was three. My wife wasn't thrilled. My newest piano is a top-notch instrument and makes the rest seem like kindling.

In Europe, America and other first world countries is very easy to buy a piano. Where I live, a piano is a luxury iten. I will have to content myself with a US$600 digital piano till the rest of my life. ;-(

Well, it's not a done deal yet, or at least it's a bird in the bush at the moment, but I'm planning on buying another piano this evening; it ain't a done deal until the money changes hands and the piano is loaded on the trailer. Either party could change their mind before that occurs (and that has happened to me before).

I won't reveal what it is just yet, but it will make my current tally of acoustic pianos at 6... (all at the same time).

Guess I've got PAS pretty bad, and I'm not sure there's a cure...

Rick

_________________________
Piano enthusiast and amateur musician: "Treat others the way you would like to be treated". Yamaha C7. YouTube Channel

In Europe, America and other first world countries is very easy to buy a piano. Where I live, a piano is a luxury iten. I will have to content myself with a US$600 digital piano till the rest of my life. ;-(

Where are you, Skylover? Thanks for pointing this out--makes me glad they invented the digital piano!

I bought it from a local church who was raising money for their youth group; So, I feel like I helped them out and helped me out too.

It needs a little work, but in good shape for its age; a few battle scars here and there from moving around, but the insides, strings, hammers, action, soundboard, etc... are in great shape. And, it sounds and plays pretty good too.

It'll give me something else on which to practice my wan-a-be piano tech skills and my piano playing skills (both need a lot of work )

Thing is, now, I've got as many acoustic pianos as I've got goats.

Rick

_________________________
Piano enthusiast and amateur musician: "Treat others the way you would like to be treated". Yamaha C7. YouTube Channel

Second piano: a no-name stencil baby grand (4'10"?) I used from about 1974 to about 2002.

Third and current piano: A 6'3" Baldwin L, originally built in 1966. Heavily re-worked. When I replace the action, it'll be completely rebuilt except for the finishes on the case and plate (which are original).

In Europe, America and other first world countries is very easy to buy a piano. Where I live, a piano is a luxury iten. I will have to content myself with a US$600 digital piano till the rest of my life. ;-(

Where are you, Skylover? Thanks for pointing this out--makes me glad they invented the digital piano!

I come fro Brazil. Don't get me bad, I like my country, but I have to agree it's one of the biggest shitholes in all the world.